A novel hybrid MPPT technique for solar PV applications using perturb & observe and Fractional Open Circuit Voltage techniques

Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems have been an area of active research for the last few decades to improve the efficiency of solar PV module. The non-linear nature of IV curve of solar PV module demands some technique to track the maximum voltage and maximum current point on IV curve corresponding to Maximum Power Point(MPP). Thus, Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) techniques are widely deployed for this purpose. Lot of MPPT techniques have been developed in recent past but still most commercial systems utilizes the perturb & observe (P&O) MPPT technique because of its simple algorithm, low cost and ease of implementation. However, this technique is slow in tracking MPP under rapidly changing irradiance conditions and it also oscillates around the MPP. This paper addresses this problematic behavior of P&O technique and hence presents a novel MPPT hybrid technique that is combination of two basic techniques i.e. P&O and Fractional Open Circuit Voltage (FOCV) technique in order to overcome the inherited deficiencies found in P&O technique. The proposed MPPT technique is much more robust in tracking the MPP even under the frequent changing irradiance conditions and is less oscillatory around the MPP as compared to P&O. The technique is verified using MATLAB/SIMULNK and simulation results show a clear improvement in achieving the MPP when subjected to change in irradiance.